Author: Carl Setzer

Why does our culture saddle girls with so much insecurity? Easier to manipulate and control, perhaps. I’m not buying the differential biology explanation for this. Looking at marketing directed at boys vs girls tells quite a bit of the story.

Yet I don’t see a nefarious plot. Generations upon generations of behaviors feeding back upon each choice. These dream fed mindsets, layering upon each, acting from the depths, our mind’s unaware. And here we are.

Slowly, as we bring each behavior into our awareness, we see the fallacies before us; leaving them in the dust of history. Wretched dreams of forgotten kings, dominations waving in the dusty, dry wind.

6/10 Update:

Came across this article that’s correlated: “Tips: Raising Children to have Healthy Relationships with Food & Their Body.” (~ Dr. Stacey Rosenfeld)

I shall work to keep from feeding this, destructive cycle for I adore the girls/women in my life.

I’ve been following Ms. Millman for sometime and highly recommend her podcast: Design Matters. I’m quite deliberate about making time as soon as I see the update come through on my iPhone. This week she interviews Noah Brier. I remember messing around with his project Brand Tags some time back, though after the interview I see an deeper power to the site that I really hadn’t considered before.

The most important takeaway: that we need to abandon the idea of controlling a brand’s image and identity. We, as professionals, can clearly influence and effect perception, but “control”; no. He points out that, really, it’s the fans, the public that really control, really own a brand. The interactions with customers, fans and critics all play a part in the identity. Reminds me of several discussions over the years where I say “we can’t please everyone. We need to identify who our audience is, focus on them, accept that there will be some un-detractable critics, and move forward.” Not everyone can become a superfan. The more popular a brand, or anything, becomes, the more critics rise. It’s the way of things.

Life is simply too short to sit back, to let the status quo grind along. I know justice can be broadened, that poverty can be challenged, that predation amongst my fellow humans can be resisted. Small, tiny acts build, flow together, creating a river of growth, of progress. We just must act! Each action, no matter how small, grows, collects, cumulating in the amazing. Do something, stand together, do something else; it’s the path of progress.

One of my current frustrations: people groaning about youth. About them taking selfies, too self-centered, too intertwined with their families…I can make this list mammoth, if you so wish. I’ve had the privilege, though, of getting to know a number of teens and early twenty-somethings. And these are great people. I delight in spending time with them. Their energy and enthusiasm are just so damn wonderful. They have ambitions, dreams. They’re deeply talented and CARE about their work.

The universe is in good hands with them. I’m happy.

[Updated to deal with autocorrect brutalities. For a professional writer, this was abysmal.]

I’ll see Mr. Hardy speak this Tuesday. Should be interesting. I’ve heard a bit about him, but haven’t explored his ideas in depth. I’m curious how practical his ideas are, and what I will take away. Stay tuned…